News & Updates

Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia Senior Patent Specialist Allen Khristian Cruz Finishes Master’s in Intellectual Property and Development Policy with Honors in South Korea

Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia Senior Patent Specialist Allen Khristian M. Cruz recently completed his master’s degree in Intellectual Property and Development Policy with the distinction of magna cum laude at the prestigious Korea Development Institute (KDI) – School of Public Policy and Management in Sejong City, South Korea. This accomplishment was made possible through the MIPD scholarship from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Academy. Notably, Mr. Cruz was also recognized with the Student Community Service Award for his active engagement within the school’s international student community.

Before joining CMT, Mr. Cruz served as a Technology Transfer Officer at the University of the Philippines Manila. Leveraging his robust technical background as a registered electrical engineer, he adeptly managed the university’s patent applications, with a focus on biomedical and ICT technologies. His responsibilities extended to overseeing the university’s trademark applications and copyright registrations, demonstrating a comprehensive grasp of intellectual property dynamics.

At present, Mr. Cruz facilitates the filing and maintenance of CMT’s patent, utility model, and industrial design portfolio. Collaborating closely with Patent Attorneys, he provides technical insights throughout the patent prosecution process, meticulously addressing substantial objections. Moreover, he conducts comprehensive patentability and registrability assessments as well as freedom-to-operate analyses.

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